Shack owners threaten to show black flags to PM

Goa’s shack owners have threatened to show black flags to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, if shacks are not allotted to them when he comes to Goa on 13th November.

The shack owners led by opposition MLA Vijai Sardesai today gheraoed the tourism director as he failed to give concrete assurance when the beach shacks would be allotted to them.

The shack allotment is delayed by almost a month because of the National Green Tribunal order, which had directed the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority to conduct inspection regarding beach carrying capacity.

The first presentation by two scientists about this inspection was mad today at the Goa Pollution Control Board.

OSD of GCZMA Sanjeev Joglekar told media after the meeting that the report in this regard would be sent to the tourism department to seek approval of the cabinet for the beach shack policy.

The shack owners would be chosen through lots after the cabinet approves the policy.

After that, the shack owners have to once again seek approval from the GCZMA to see whether the shacks are erected in the notified place.

“After that they would be issued licences”, said Joglekar.

Perhaps this is the reason the director was not spelling out when the shacks would be allotted.

Sardesai however demands that the shacks be allotted immediately or compensation be paid to the shack owners for losing one-month business.

He has also alleged that the ruling politicians are in collusion with the coastal hotels owners, due to which the shack allotment is delayed under the guise of NGT order.

Ruling party’s Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, who also owns a shack, however claims that it is delayed due to procedural delays caused with the NGT order.